Sidney Myer was an Australian businessman who's best known for creating Australia's largest chain of department stores, Myer. With his substantial wealth, he expressed his kind, generous nature with various philanthropic endeavors.
One of the most notable was during the depression of the 1930s when Myer decided to give 10,000 unemployed people a vast Christmas dinner on Christmas day of 1930, and even included a gift for every child in attendance. The gesture was intended to cheer people up during a less-than-cheery period in time.
This was one of many of Myer's undertakings of goodwill.
He also played the violin and enjoyed music, which, in 1929, gave him the idea to establish free, open-air concerts with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
The depression of the 1930s was tough for many, and many people found themselves out of a job. Myer's business also faced difficulty, but instead of laying people off, workers, including Myer himself, had their wages cut.
Myer unfortunately passed away in 1934 and his funeral was attended by 100,000 people. He left one-tenth of his estate to the Sidney Myer Charitable Trust, which continues his philanthropic legacy to this day.